What Is a Beauty Therapist and How to Become One?

Are you thinking about a new career path? Or, are you getting out of school and don’t know what might be right for you? Fortunately, if the beauty industry is what interests you, you have many options ahead. For example, you can become a beauty therapist. In case you’re not sure what it really means and how you can find a job in this niche, read on for some essential information.

What is a beauty therapist?

First of all, let’s define what a beauty therapist is. Also known as a beautician, a beauty therapist is a person that performs all sorts of beauty treatments for their clients. From skin to body treatments, you can help your future clients boost their self-confidence by enhancing their appearance. You can specialize in a certain type of procedure or offer general services. Moreover, you can open your own salon or look for a job in a local spa, salon, or specialized center.

What does one do as a beauty therapist?

With that in mind, let’s go over some duties that you might have as a beauty therapist, depending on what you specialize in and where you work.

For instance, your job might be to remove a client’s unwanted face or body hair. You can also work in a tanning salon, offer skin care treatments like facials, perform manicures and pedicures, or apply makeup. Then, you can also give relaxation or pain relief massages. Moreover, by getting the right education, you should be able to identify and treat certain skin conditions like redness and dryness. Your knowledge and experience will also allow you to consult with clients and recommend beauty treatments that would suit them best. In time, you will build a great relationship with your clients due to how well you do your job and how friendly you are.

How can you become a beauty therapist?

Now that you have a better understanding of the various jobs you could do as a beauty therapist, you should also know how you can become one. Read on for the necessary steps.

Finish high school

Before anything else, you need a high school diploma. Therefore, if you’re still in school, make sure you finish it to get some basic skills that will come in really handy later on, like math and reading comprehension. Something else you can consider is opting for a vocational high school that offers a cosmetology program or one related to it. This is a great way to prepare for what is yet to come and develop some relevant skills.

Look for a specialized program

Once you have your high school diploma, it’s time to look for higher education in the field that interests you. When it comes to getting a diploma in beauty therapy, you have plenty of choices ahead of you, both full- and part-time. That means that you can get your diploma in 12 or 24 months. In terms of courses, you can specialize in a field like an eyebrow shaping and look for a program with a focus on this niche. However, you can also keep it general and make sure you can cover everything from facials to massages with quality beauty therapy courses. Classes typically cover health and safety practices as well. What is more, not only will you learn how to operate your own business, but you can also learn how to teach others.

Find an apprenticeship opportunity

Another move that can be very beneficial for your career is looking for an apprenticeship program. By finding an expert beautician that is willing to mentor you, you can learn more about different niches while supervised. This will also prepare you for working with clients, no matter if you’ve already finished an educational program or not.

Get a license

You also cannot overlook the legal aspect of becoming a beauty therapist. Depending on where you live and want to work, you might have to get a license in order to operate. With that in mind, research the requirements you must meet. You might have to pass a written test and show your practical skills as well as prove you understand the necessary health and safety procedures.

Decide if you will open your own salon

A part of being a beauty therapist is deciding if you will start your own business or work in someone else’s salon. For example, in the beginning, it might be better to look for an already established business that you can join. That way, you can get some experience and understand how things work. After a while, you might realize that you’re happy where you are and have no need to open your own shop. On the other hand, you might see that running your own business is exactly what you want.

Start networking

For your business to thrive, you will need customers. So, start spreading the word about your services. Make accounts on different social media and use digital marketing to the max. However, don’t forget about offline ways of advertising either. Give out flyers and rely on word-of-mouth marketing, as satisfied clients can be your best promotional strategy.

If you’ve realized that becoming a beauty therapist is the right move for you, follow the above-listed steps for a successful career. Good luck and have fun!